Effective Natural Treatment Methods And Home Remedies For Hypertension, High Blood Pressure And Cholesterol

Best Herbs And Spices For Treating, Reducing High Blood Pressure And Cholesterol Fast

Hypertension is a leading cause of several life-threatening health conditions such as stroke, atherosclerosis, heart failure, and kidney disease, particularly when left untreated. This condition affects about 1 billion people globally, making it a very common disorder in several cultures.

According to the American Heart Association, about 85 million people in the U.S have hypertension. This statistic indicates that about one-third of the American population above 20 years of age is hypertensive. Another worrisome statistical report says that about 67% of Americans older than 65 years have high blood pressure.

High blood pressure can be lowered by using different remedies, such as the use of medication like Renin inhibitors. However, in this article, we shall focus on natural treatment methods for hypertension.

What is hypertension?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a medical condition marked by an abnormally high blood pressure. Or put more simply, high blood pressure is a condition where the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries is above normal.

Blood pressure is measured in mm Hg (millimeter-mercury); a person is said to have hypertension when his/her blood pressure is at or above 140/90 mm Hg.

Causes of hypertension

Blood pressure is primarily an effect of heart. The heart is responsible for pumping blood to other parts of the body. This process of pumping creates pressure in the blood vessels carrying blood away from the heart – the arteries. Hypertension, therefore, occurs when the pressure on the arteries become abnormally high over time.

Basically, the major reason for hypertension is not clear; however, several factors contribute to the development of the condition. The following are some risk factors that contribute to the development of hypertension:

Age

Obesity

Alcohol intake

Family history

Smoking

Excess salt intake

Diabetes

High fat diet

Pregnancy

Mental stress

Physical inactivity

Signs and symptoms of hypertension

Hypertension is referred to as the “silent killer.” This is because in most occasions, hypertensive persons may not experience any symptoms.

However, at some point certain symptoms will become noticeable. Common symptoms of high blood pressure include:

Nausea and vomiting

Dizziness

Nosebleeds

Headache

Shortness of breath

Fatigue

Natural home remedies for hypertension

Herbs And Spices To Lower Your Blood Pressure

The following are some natural home remedies for hypertension.

Basil Leaves

The leaf of the basil plant has been proven to contain eugenol, which has vasodilating properties. This means that consumption of basil leaves will help to prevent constriction of the blood vessels, which is a precursor to high blood pressure. Thus, inclusion of basil leaves in the diet of a hypertensive person will help to regulate the blood pressure.

Cardamom Tea Or Spice

Drinking cardamom tea or adding the spice to your foods and drinks has been known to help in the treatment of high blood pressure. According to a study, daily intake of 3 grams of cardamom powder for a 3-month period can result in a regulated blood pressure.

Flax Seed

Flax seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that help in lowering high blood pressure. According to a study, taking about 50 grams of flax seeds each day for at least 3 months can help in treating hypertension. Other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like fish oil and wild-caught salmon can also be included in your meal to increase your daily intake of the fat.

Garlic

Garlic has blood-thinning properties as well as help in unblocking the blood vessels. Adding garlic to your meals or chewing it raw will help to lower high blood pressure and also in preventing the condition.

Limit your alcohol intake

Excessive alcohol consumption has been linked to about a fifth of all hypertension cases. Therefore, bingeing on alcohol won’t do you any good especially if you have a family history of hypertension.

Reduce your caffeine intake

Like alcohol, too much intake of caffeinated drinks can also increase your blood pressure. While there is not sufficient proof to this effect, it is believed that caffeine intake can cause a momentary spike in blood pressure. That said, it has been found that people who regularly consume caffeinated drinks have a lower risk of developing high blood pressure.

Quit smoking

Smoking is a common factor that contributes to the development of several cardiovascular health problems. Research has also discovered that tobacco smoking is deleterious to the blood vessels. Although there have not been confirmatory studies on the direct relationship between smoking and hypertension, quitting the habit will help the body in several ways.

Ginger

Ginger is a storehouse of powerful antioxidants that makes it a wonderful herb for treating various health conditions. For the purpose of reducing high blood pressure, ginger works by improving the circulation of blood and by relaxing the muscles around the arteries. You can consume ginger in various ways, including adding it to meals and chewing it raw.

Exercise

We already mentioned that physical inactivity can cause hypertension. Regular exercise is a remedy for this risk factor. Simply walking or more exerting activities like running will help to put the heart in good shape. So, if your high blood pressure is mainly due to a lack of physical activity, you should start working out every day to remedy the situation.

French lavender

French lavender can be used for hypertension treatment. Studies conducted on rodents have found that lavender extract can be used to slow heart rate and reduce blood pressure.

Hawthorn

Hawthorn is packed with powerful antioxidants such as flavonoids, which are beneficial in lowering high blood pressure. Besides, the antioxidants present in hawthorn help to protect the blood vessels and the heart from diseases. For treating hypertension, it is recommended that you take about 500 mg of hawthorn extract each day or hawthorn tea.

De-stress

Emotional and mental stress have also been linked to hypertension. This is because stress causes the heart rate to increase and tightening of the arteries. In addition, stress has been found to lead many persons into impulsive behaviors like alcohol bingeing and overeating, thereby, increasing the risk of hypertension. De-stressing yourself by listening to music or reducing your stressful situations can help to cure hypertension.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a herbal plant that is used as spice for cooking. You can benefit from this herb by adding it to your meals, or by making tea with it. Whichever method you decide to go with, you are rest assured that cinnamon will help to regulate hypertension.

Reduce your salt intake

High intake of salt has been linked to an increased risk of hypertension. This is basically because salt contains sodium, which is harmful to the heart in large amounts. Apart from this, it is suggested that about half of all hypertensive people have sensitivity to salt and are unable to properly process the sodium content. Hence, cutting back on your salt intake is a natural way of lowering your high blood pressure.

Increase your intake of potassium-rich foods

Foods rich in potassium like bananas and avocados can help to balance the effects of sodium in the body. Eating such foods will help to lower the blood pressure.

Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate, or semi-sweet chocolate, can be used for curing high blood pressure. According to several studies, dark chocolate contains powerful flavonoids, which help to prevent constriction of blood vessels. You can also use cocoa powder in addition to dark chocolate for best results.

Spinach

Spinach is rich in folate and magnesium, which are known to help in protecting the heart from cardiovascular disease. Adding spinach to your meals or using it for smoothie is a natural way of treating and preventing high blood pressure.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are rich in powerful chemical compounds such as phytochemcials, which play an important role in reducing bad cholesterol levels in the blood. Lycopene, which is the chief phytochemical in tomato and the source of the fruit’s red color, has been shown to have a positive effect in reducing cholesterol levels in the blood. High blood cholesterol levels have been linked with an increased risk of hypertension, so regular consumption of tomatoes will help to not only lower blood pressure, but can also help in preventing the condition.

Reduce your intake of high fat foods

Consumption of foods with a high cholesterol or high fat content increase the risk of developing hypertension and heart disease. Therefore, cutting back on the consumption of such foods will do you a lot of good if you are hypertensive.

Deep breathing

Deep breathing is classified as a stress reduction technique and has been shown to play a role in the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. Among other functions, the parasympathetic nervous system stimulates vasodilation (dilation of blood vessels) and in slowing the heart. Furthermore, studies have proven that deep breathing can help to lower blood pressure in a relatively short time.

Green tea

A recent study has proven that daily consumption of green tea for a 6-month period will help to significantly lower high blood pressure. The underlying reason is because green tea is loaded with powerful antioxidants like phytochemicals which help in protecting the heart.

Cat’s claw

In Traditional Chinese medicine, cat’s claw is a common herbal remedy for neurological problems as well as high blood pressure. Laboratory studies have found that cat’s claw can help in lowering blood pressure due to its action on calcium.

Celery seeds

Celery stalks and seeds have been used in Traditional Chinese medicine for treating high blood pressure. This works because celery contains compounds that help in unblocking stuffed arteries as well as in reducing the bad cholesterol levels in the body. So, if you have hypertension, you should consider chewing on some celery stalks or drinking celery seed extract daily.

Shed the extra weight

Obesity and being overweight are also contributors to high blood pressure. Several studies have found that losing weight can help to significantly lower high blood pressure. While the process of gaining weight is definitely easier for most people than losing weight, losing weight will help the body in a lot of ways.

Natural methods of treating high blood pressure usually combine the use of herbs and proper lifestyle habits.

Proper understanding of the underlying cause(s) of hypertension will help to know the appropriate remedies to be employed.